Dispensing machine



Aug. 17, 1954 H. P. CURLEE 2,685,612

DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheetl IN V EN TOR.

fiaruey P Carlee BY Mi rate/v S 1954 H. P. CURLEE 2,686,612

' DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1950 -4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

. INVEVTOR.

Haruey P Carlee Fig.8

Patented Aug. 17, 1954 DISPENSING MACHINE Harvey P. Curlee, Raleigh, N. (3., assignor to Curlee Machinery Company, Inc., a corporation of North Carolina 6 Application June 13, 1950, Serial No. 167,820

10 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a dispensing machine. While the machine is capable of dispensin many different kinds of articles, it is particularly adapted to the vending of packages of crackers and the like.

The objects of the invention are to construct a dispensing cabinet of large capacity and in which the goods are substantially in ful1 view; to produce an article holding magazine in which the goods are individually supported rather than being stacked on top of each other; to produce a novel coin controlled mechanism for dispensing the goods; to produce a machine in which the article discharging mechanism is separately housed, and removable from the article carrying reelstrays or racks; and toproduce adispensing machine of pleasing appearance, and including operating mechanism of simple and durable constrnction.

Generally these objects are obtained by mounting a plurality of independently supported circular reels or trays, one over th other, and horizontally rotatable about their vertical axis. The

trays are surrounded exteriorly by a circular in connection. with the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the disp-ensing machine, partly broken away;

Figure "2 is a side elevational view of Figure 1, the side cover panel being removed;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine with the .top cover removed;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 44 Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view taken on the line 5 --5 ,Figure2;

Figure .6 is, a view similar to Figure 5 with the parts moved into another operating position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged Iragmentary iew similar to Figure 5, but with the parts moved into another operating position; 1

Figure ,8 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 8-8, Figure 3;

Fi ure 9 is an enlarged fr mentary v ew oi the operating mechanism in side view;

Figure 1D is a fragmentary view of the reverse side of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view on the l n Il l |,Figure,9;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view on the line l2-I2, Figure 10;

Figure 13 is an enlarged detailed view or part of the interlocking mechanism;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view on the line i l-i 4, Figure 13 and Figure 15 is an exploded View of the mechanism shown in Figures 13 and 1-4.

In i ures 1 toe, the dispensing machinery is contained in a cylindrical housing Lat least a portion of which is fashioned of transparent ma:- terial A presenting a, clear unbroken View of the interior of the housing. Adjacent the transparent se ti n a s ctor of he cylindrical wall is omitted, s it is cov red by a emov bly rectan ular housing 5. This latter housing contains the p r in mechanism for the dispens r, and o s n e t a id fo the dispenser. Housin 2 is t er ncl sed by a bottom p ate .8 and a top plate in.

W n housing 2, and rest ng on bott m plate 3, is a spider I2 to which are attachedi urp l4 extending vertically to, and securedto a top spider [6, Spiders l2 and I6 further joined through their centers by a od J8. Each post 14 h a series f u wa d y iac ng vertical y spaced notches 26, Figure 8, the notches of a jacent posts lyin in he am hor zontal pla A series of annular reels or trays 22 are mounted in no s 2%, said t ays thus being vertical y separated from each other, and the notches 22 ly in the horizontal pla eoi each tray form n bearing surfaces on which the respective tray can be circularly rotated. The upper surface of each tray is subdivided into a plurality of compartts by p tand n pla s 24, twenty in the trays illustrated, the space between each two .adjacent plates being adapted to receive an article to be dispensed 0r vended by the machine. Each plate 24 is tapered to be narrowed toward the center of the tray in order that the spacing between the plates is not appreciably diminished on the shortened circumference of the inner edge of the tray. The outer ends of plates 24 are spaced inwardly from the outer circumiemntia1 edge of tray .22 and this circumferential edge has a series of notches 25, each in radial alignment with a plate 24. Furthermore, the .circum ferential edge of each tray .22 has one arcuate r6- notches 2 5.

in one edge of bar I16. an arm I86 secured to the rod through an opening in plate I10, said arm terminating in a downmechanism 60 contains a bell crank I54, one arm I56 of which is attached to the free end of lever I46 by a rod I 56, this arm being urged downwardly by spring I60. The other arm I62 extends downwardly and has its lower end joined by a right angle connection I64, Figure ll, to an ets I18, has its upper end joined to the free end of lever I50 by rod I80. Bar I16 is urged downwardly by spring I82. A locking notch I30 is out Said rod also carries turned coin stop I89.

A locking bell crank I90 is pivotally secured to plate I10 adjacent bar I16, the upper arm I92 of which extends slightly inclined upwardly from the horizontal, and has at its free end a pin I94 which projects through slot I96 in plate I10. Lower arm I '90 forms an obtuse angle with arm I92, and hangs inclined to the vertical andnormally in locking engagement with notch I84 in bar I16.

Plate I12 is actually formed in two parts. Upper part 112a extends from the chute 50, Figure 2, to the slot I68 and forms one wall of the coin chute. The lower edge of plate I I2a is curved to conform with slot I66, and one lower corner is cut away to clear slot I96. Lower portion Il2b has an upper edge curved to slot I66 and then is continued into a projection I13 which is inelined on one side to form a guide for pin I04, and has another side flush with end I86 of arm I86. Portion I121) forms a cover plate for two chutes, namely the coin return chute 62a and the coin counting chute 64a.

A coin release mechanism is composed oi a plate 200 extending through a slot in plate I into the space beneath slot I66. Plate 200 is at tached to one arm of a crank 202' which is mounted on plate I10. The other arm of crank 202 is connected to horizontal rod 204, which. is joined to vertical rod 206. A second crank 208 connects rod 206 to a push rod 2H1, having a knob 212 outwardly of panel 40. Push rod 2I0 is urged outwardly by spring 2I4. Rod 206 extends upwardly into connection with the coin release portion of the coin selector 56, the details of which are not a part of this invention.

The operation of this dispensing machine. is as follows. To load the machine, housing 6 is swung open on hinges so to expose trays 22. Each tray has the articles to be vended placed in thecompartments between plates 24, the trays being rotated by hand to make the various compartments accessible. However, the compart ment twice removed to the left of the compartment on the edge of which curved notch 26 appears, is left vacant. Each tray is then rotated until the notches 26 are all aligned at the right side of the opening, note Figure 5, and housing 6 closed.

To vend an article, a coin is deposited in chute 54, said coin passing into coin selector 56, and if rejected passes directly down chute 51 into coin return chute 62. If accepted, the coin passes to mechanism 60 where it comes to rest on top of plate 200 and in front of push plate I66, Figures 9 and 10.

A knob 86, when pulled outward and then pushed inward, will discharge an article from the tray with which the knob is horizontally aligned. Initial outward movement of a knob, Figures 5 and 6, will move rods 10 and 12 and cam H2. First, arm 98 is swung away from tray 22 as cam follower I02 leaves cam 96. Almost simultaneously, cam II2 engages between segments I34 and lifts all upper segments, this movement being transmitted through lever I46 and rod I56 to crank I 64, which actuates pusher I66 to push the coin to the right in Figure 10, said coin striking pin I94 and raising it. Crank I90, Figure 9, is thus moved counterclockwise, and arm I98 is disengaged from notch I64, bar I16 being unlocked. The coin comes to rest against coin stop I86 of arm I06.

Cam III. continues to move into engagement with notch I42 in bar I40, and lifts the bar, the motion being transmitted by lever I50 and rod I86 to lift bar I16. Arm I66 is raised and frees the coin which falls through chute 64a and counter 60 into box 66. It is noted that bar I16 cannot be lifted, and thus bar I40 cannot be moved until a coin has first been received at slot I68 to actuate crank I60. Outward movement of rod 84, and bars 10 and 12, is halted until this is done. Likewise, no other similar mechanism on the adjacent shelves can be operated as the further movement of segments I34 is stopped by arm I62 having reached its limit of movement.

Further movement of bars 10 and 12 causes arm 96 to swing to the position of Figure 6. Meanwhile, index finger H0 rides along the edge of tray 22 to engage the next notch 25. Ratchet II6 prevents a reverse movement until the end of the outward stroke.

Bar. 84 is then pushed inwardly, the initial movement starting the incremental rotation of I tray 22 by index finger IItI. Cam follower I02 then reaches cam notch 66 and is forced into notch 96 to give a positive drive to arm 96 by being pushed by crossbar 16. In completion of'its movement, bumper I96 has entered into a compartment space on tray 22 and pushed an article therefrom, into chute 23. Disc I00 bears against either of the adjacent plates 24 and rotates tray 22 into correct alignment if such be necessary, and also holds tray 22 against further counterclockwise rotation.

At the same time cam H2 has withdrawn first from beneath bar I60, this bar dropping and permitting bar I 16 to fall and be locked by arm I96. Knob 86 cannot, therefore, be pulled out to reactivate the mechanism to discharge another article before another coin is inserted in the machine. Secondly, cam II'2 withdraws from beneath segments 36, thus permitting crank arm I56 to drop, and resetting curved push bar I66. With the knob 86 pushed all the way in, the mechanism is set for another operation cycle.

This cycle is repeated until the rotation of the tray brings notch 26 to the position oi" arm 90, Figure 7. At this point, tray 22. is empty, and arm 96 swings, as its end 94 is displaced, into locking engagement with notch 88, thus preventing movement of the article releasing mechanism. Of course, it should be obvious that any particular tray is empty by viewing the tray through the transparent portion of housing 2. However, lock bar 00 prevents a coin from being collected on an empty tray.

As described before, an acceptable coin deposited in chute 54 comes to rest on plate 200, Figures 9 to 12. To obtain the direct return of the coin in the event that the machine is empty, or for any other reason, knob 2 I2 is pushed inward- 1y. This swings crank 208 which lowers rod 206, and in turn lowers rod 204, to actuate crank 202, and plate 200 is withdrawn from between plates I10 and [121), thus permitting the coin to drop into chute 62a and be returned. through chute 62. Rod 206 also opens coin selector 56 so that any coin or other object which may be caught there will be removed. through chutes 5'! and 62.

Articles are removed from the machine by lifting door 32 and taking the article from pan 30. As cover 34 has been moved to close off the bottom of chute 28, no foreign objects can be pushed into the interior of the machine.

Having now described the means by which the objects of the invention are obtained, I claim:

1. A dispensing machine comprising a plurality of annular trays, means for supporting said trays in vertically aligned spaced relation, each of said trays being independently horizontally rotatable, a chute mounted in the center space of said annular trays vertically coextensive therewith and having an opening common to all of said trays, and means for discharging articles from said trays into said chute.

2. A dispensing machine as in claim 1, said supporting means comprising a plurality of posts, notches in each post horizontally aligned with similar notches in adjacent posts, and said trays being slidably mounted in the respective horizontally aligned notches.

3. A dispensing machine as in claim 2, a wall member secured to said posts between each vertically spaced pair of notches.

4. A dispensing machine as in claim 3, said discharging means comprising an arm swingable over a tray, a pull bar, means for locking said bar against movement, means for unlocking said bar,

and cam means on said bar for swinging said arm from said tray upon movement of an unlocked bar, and upon reverse movement of said bar for swinging said bar over said tray to push an article therefrom.

5. A dispensing machine comprising a plurality of annular trays, a housing, means mounting said trays in said housing in vertically aligned spaced relation, each tray being independently rotatable about its center axis, a chute mounted in the center space of said trays and vertically COGX- tensive therewith, a second housing, a plurality of article discharging mechanisms in said second housing each of which corresponds to one of said trays for pushing articles from said trays into said chute, respectively, and means for removably securing said second housing to said housing for said trays with each article discharging mechanism operatively mounted adjacent its respective tray.

6. A dispensing machine as in claim 5, said second housing further including a coin actuated locking mechanism, and means interconnecting said locking mechanism with each of said article discharging mechanisms.

7. In a dispensing machine having an annular tray mounted for horizontal rotation about its center, radially extending partitions on said tray adapted to separate goods to be dispensed, means for ejecting articles from said tray, and means for indexing said tray, said ejecting means comprising an ejecting bar normally extending from the outer circumference of said tray into the space between two partitions, a pull-push rod, cam means actuable by pulling said rod for engaging said bar to withdraw said bar from the space between the partitions, means connecting said indexing means to said rod for indexing said tray upon pushing of said rod, and said cam means returning said ejecting bar to starting position between a new pair of partitions whereby an article seated between said new pair of partitions is ejected toward the center of said annular tray.

8. An ejecting mechanism for a dispensing machine comprising an annular tray adapted to carry articles to be dispensed, a shelf adjacent said tray, a pull-push bar slidably mounted on said shelf, an arm pivotally secured to said shelf and swingable over said shelf and said tray, and a cam on said bar engageable with said arm for efiecting the swinging of said arm when said bar is moved.

9. An ejecting mechanism as in claim 8, said cam comprising a slot in said bar having a cam surfaced edge, and a cam follower secured to said arm and movable in said slot.

10. An ejecting mechanism as in claim 9, said arm further comprising an elbowed member, and said cam follower being secured to said arm at said elbow.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,064,941 Thompson June 1'7, 1913 1,190,881 Erickson July 11, 1916 1,245,928 Kuhn Nov. 6, 1917 1,287,726 Mears Dec. 17, 1918 1,446,010 Holland Feb. 20, 1923 1,994,342 Fry Mar. 12, 1935 2,008,926 Rowe July 23, 1935 2,103,391 Scofield Dec. 28, 1937 2,207,902 Steiner July 16, 1940 2,227,721 Kaufmann Jan. 7, 1941 2,241,489 Steiner May 13, 1941 2,423,265 Stewart July 1, 1947 2,471,801 Wallace May 31, 1949 2,522,316 Steiner Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,810 Switzerland Sept. 10, 1903 13,786 Denmark Oct. 6, 1910 397,163 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1933 573,242 Germany Mar. 29, 1933 682,485 Germany Oct. 16, 1939 

